The Seahawks are walking into Week 10 with a matchup that could shape the way they handle the Raiders’ passing game, and it starts with Brock Bowers.
Las Vegas brings back a familiar face in Klint Kubiak, the former Seahawks offensive coordinator who now runs the Raiders as head coach. But the real problem for Seattle is the tight end lining up in his offense.
Bowers has been one of the league’s toughest covers all season, and the numbers back it up: he sits ninth in the NFL in receiving yards with 658 despite appearing in only seven games. Among tight ends, nobody has gained more.
That puts a spotlight on Nick Emmanwori, the Seahawks’ versatile safety who is the most likely candidate to handle the assignment in coverage. Seattle already had a dress rehearsal for this kind of test in its second meeting with Arizona, when Trey McBride led the NFL in receptions with 73 entering that game.
Emmanwori drew that matchup last weekend, and McBride finished with seven catches against the Seahawks. Pro Football Focus didn’t charge Emmanwori with allowing any of them.
The workload told its own story. Emmanwori logged a season-high 29 coverage snaps in that game, a sign the Seahawks were comfortable leaning on him in a demanding role.
Bowers has also been producing at an elite rate beyond raw yardage. He ranks sixth among all pass catchers in receiving yards per game at 94.0, which makes him a problem no matter how Seattle chooses to defend him. Still, the Seahawks have seen this type of challenge before, and they have a defender built for it.
With rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza set to make his first career start for the Raiders, the matchup between Emmanwori and Bowers stands out as the one to watch.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Bigger Problem Than Just Sundays Opponent
The Seahawks opened the week with more than just a matchup to sort through, as their first injury report ahead of the Raiders brought a mixed bag on both sides of the ball. Backup quarterback Drew Lock is working through elbow and oblique issues, though he is making progress and could be in line to start. On the positive side, Rashid Shaheed was back to full participation, giving Seattle at least one healthy offensive piece as the team begins to settle in for the week.
The bigger concern is up front and on defense, where Quenton Nelson and Charles Cross both sat out because of injuries, while Leonard Williams remained out with a stinger. Derick Hall was limited by a back injury and Uchenna Nwosu was limited with an ankle issue, leaving Seattle with several key names still in question before facing a Raiders team that appears to be trending toward near full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Still Need A Breakout And One Young Player Has Opening
The Seahawks have spent much of this season waiting for one of their younger players to turn promise into production, and injuries around the roster have made that search a little harder. Even so, there are still chances for someone to seize a larger role, especially with the offense looking for another spark beyond the steady work already coming from Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Jadarian Price is one of the names worth watching this week. The rookie running back has an opening to make a real impression against a weak rushing defense, and Seattle could use a breakout from a player still early in his NFL journey. If he can take advantage, it would give the Seahawks another useful piece at a time when they are still trying to identify who can help them most down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Pass Rush Has A Chance To Wreck A New Raiders Plan
The Raiders are turning the page to rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza after moving on from Kirk Cousins, and that gives Seattles defense a fresh target heading into the matchup. Byron Murphy II and Mike Macdonald both sounded confident the Seahawks can make life difficult for Mendoza in his first NFL start, which is exactly the kind of test Seattles front likes to present when a young passer is thrown into the fire.
Klint Kubiak has already praised Mendozas preparation, but the Seahawks will be trying to turn a well-studied week into a long afternoon once the game starts. For Seattle, the bigger question is whether that pass rush can do more than just hurry a rookie - whether it can disrupt the Raiders new plan before it has a chance to settle in. [Read more 🡒]